Looks like Trouble to Me (Bad Boys Need Love, Too #1)

by Calinda B

  “Right. Like you. She’d had enough with him so we started dating. He seemed cool with it. Billy never lacks for sexual partners.”

  “So I’ve noticed. Okay, so he let you take his leftovers, which happen to be quality food, I have to say.”

  “The best.” He picked up her palm again, and kissed it tenderly. “He has no idea what he gave up - none at all.”

  “That feels good.”

  “Good. I love to kiss you.” He brushed his mouth along her wrist and inner arm, sucking lightly, making little breathy noises that gave her the shivers. “Are we done yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I didn’t think so.” He sighed. “Next question?”

  “What did she do to hurt you?”

  He blew out a gust of air. “She hooked up with Billy again. We’d been together, happily, I thought, for four years.”

  Zoé winced. “Ouch. That explains your animosity toward him.”

  “Some of it, yeah.” He withdrew his hand, dragging it tiredly through his hair.

  “How many times?”

  “Zoé.” He shook his head. “I don’t care to relive this. It was painful enough to live through it once.” He sighed. “But the answer is twice. I forgave her the first time. That gave her the go ahead to do it again.” His jaw began tick, tick, ticking, the muscles no doubt protesting what the mind had revealed.

  She bit her lip, considering her next question. “Okay, I’m done with Kate Bethlehem.”

  “Good because so am I,” he said flatly. “I’m also growing tired of answering questions. You probably have about two minutes worth of my attention to this game before I explode.”

  She blinked. Her mind reeled and raced. “Were there drugs on the yacht?”

  “Loads.”

  “Did you partake?”

  “Sometimes, yeah.”

  “What kind? I hate drugs.”

  “Weed, speed, coke, Cat Valium…”

  “Cat Valium?”

  “Ketamine. Let’s see, we rolled with MDMA…there’s probably more but I forget all we did. Billy gets his hands on whatever he wants.”

  “Do you still do drugs?” She felt like she was speed talking.

  “None. One minute thirty left.” His fingers drummed the sofa arm.

  “Did you do a lot of women?”

  “Whoever I could get my hands on.”

  She didn’t like that answer.

  His jaw tightened again. “One minute left, baby.”

  “Were you interested in any of them? You know, for a girlfriend?”

  “Not a one.”

  “Not even a little?” she said hurriedly.

  “Thirty seconds.” His mouth pressed into a solid line.

  “No-one?”

  “No-one, Zoé, how many times do I have to say it?”

  The words exploded from his mouth, making her recoil, wondering if she’d pushed too hard.

  “Now can we be done? I don’t want to dwell on my past. I’ve spent the past six months sorting through it, casting demons aside. I’m done with this game,” he said with finality. “Are you happy now?”

  “Yes. Happy now.” She withdrew her legs and stood, feeling a bit wobbly. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Scones? I bought some good ones yesterday to nibble on.”

  “Come back here.”

  She sat stiffly on the sofa.

  “Come here,” he said.

  She scooted closer.

  “Come here where I can feel you.”

  Unable to resist, she pressed up against him.

  “I want you close to me, all the time.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Look, baby, I hate to dwell on my past. I answered your questions because it’s important to you. It’s not important to me. I don’t care who you’ve slept with as long as I’m reassured that I have exclusive rights to you now, when it counts. Right now. Into the future. That’s how I want it.”

  “So you really want to be with me?” Gah, I sound so weak.

  “I really want to be with you. More than anything.” He parsed out the syllables of the last word, making it sound important.

  “I want that, too. I’m sorry I pushed you.”

  “It needed to happen apparently. I’ll live.”

  “You don’t look happy, though. I feel bad for pushing so hard.”

  “Look, babe. Thinking about Kate Bethlehem and what she did to me and how she did it is a complete waste of time, believe me. It is what it is. It’s done. It’s over and I’m glad. It never would have lasted.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I know because we wanted different things. She wanted to fool around and live the party lifestyle. I wanted more. I want what I found in you.”

  Zoé felt like her heart would rupture, spilling joy around the room. “You really mean that?”

  “Yes, girl, I really mean that.” He kissed her hand again before standing.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I want to show you the pictures I took of you the other night. A few turned out great.”

  “Where are they?”

  “In the truck.”

  “No bad boy Angel today?”

  “No, I had to drop…” He cut himself off. “I figured it might rain today.”

  Her forehead creased a little. What was he going to say?

  She watched his beautifully sculpted back and butt as he strode toward the door. “Neighbors might rush you if you step out looking like that.”

  “Oh. Right. I don’t have any close neighbors.”

  “Rural setting?”

  “More or less.” He yanked on his jeans. “Be right back.” He exited out the front in his bare feet, apparently unconcerned with the temperature.

  A few minutes later he re-entered the house, holding his knapsack.

  “Your ever-present pack,” she said, smiling.

  “Holds everything I need,” he said, returning the smile. “Except you. I think it would be too snug for me to carry you this way. I’d do it if I could, though. That way you’d be right where I wanted you, when I wanted you.”

  “Hmm,” she said, thinking And I’d be able to see where he lives and what he doesn’t want me to see.

  “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” he said, settling next to her. “Don’t answer. I can only take so many third degree interrogations.” He rummaged through the contents, pulling out a large white envelope. “Here. Take a look at these prints. Pick out your favorites. I’m going to enlarge them and put them all over my house. That way I’ll feel close to you when I’m away.”

  “What does that leave me? Can I get a photo or two of you?”

  “I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  “I don’t want any of you during your party days,” she said, frowning. “Or your sorting days. Maybe I’ll have to take a few shots.”

  “You any good with a camera? You can use mine.”

  “You should see the photos I take with my phone.” She grinned mischievously.

  “As long as I’m looking at you, the pictures shouldn’t be half bad.” He gave her a cheeky smile. “Open it. Look inside.”

  She cocked her head and regarded him. He seemed eager to show her his work. She slid her fingers under the stack of eight by eleven inch glossy photos and pulled them free from their paper enclosure. “Oh, Jace! Is that me?” She fingered an image of her, making a face at him under the bridge. “You make me look beautiful!”

  “You make you look beautiful,” he said, beaming. “I captured one tiny piece of that beauty with my camera.” He held his thumb and forefinger in front of his eye, squinting.

  She slowly sifted through them, picking up each one and studying it before moving on to the next. “These are exquisite,” she said, when she’d gone through the entire stack. “You’re very talented. I see why companies hire you.”

  “I’d love to do it full time,” he said. “Someday.”

  “Sounds like a special dream,” she said, setting
the images to the side.

  “It’s a dream, true enough. I hope to make it a reality. Just got to get through my…got to get through this moment and get onto the next. Hopefully, you’ll still want to be with me. I’d love to share the dream with you.”

  She grew silent. He looked so boyish, so hopeful, she wanted to hug him hard. Is he insecure? My bad boy, Angel riding lover? Sure seems like it. “I can’t imagine being anywhere than by your side,” she said with reassurance.

  He let out a long, slow breath and held her gaze for what seemed like a long time, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “Okay,” he said with finality. “Good answer. Now let’s figure out what my beautiful lover wants to eat so I can feed her. She needs to keep up her strength for round two.” He gave her a saucy grin.

  “Let’s go, beautiful dreamer.”

  Chapter 18

  Jace practically sang when he arrived at work and that would be scary for all concerned. His overnight stay with Zoé had been fucking fantastic, interrogation notwithstanding.

  “You look happy,” Neil said when he entered the break room.

  “Hell, yeah. I’m starting to care for Zoé.”

  “That’s the new girl?”

  “Yep,” he said, tossing his keys and wallet into the locker.

  “I got a notice from Billy. He’s not coming in until his lawsuit is over. His lawyers said ‘It will put undue stress on him.’ Can you believe that?”

  “Shit,” Jace said. “Suits me fine, though. I’ll be able to breathe. You should have heard the way he goaded me last week.”

  “Oh, I heard some of it,” Neil said, reaching for the coffee. “I almost stepped in but you seemed to handle yourself. Want some?”

  “Sure, thanks.” Jace leaned against the counter.

  “It sure looks good to see you happy for a change. You’ve had a rough year.”

  “I have. But I feel like the stars have aligned or something.” He took the cup Neil extended to him. “Thanks.” He brought it to his lips. “Wow. That’s harsh. Who made it?”

  “Afraid it was me.” He let out a short laugh.

  “Hand me that creamer so I can cut it a little.” He pried open the plastic container, spilling it into his cup, stirring it with his little finger. “Better,” he said, after tasting it. “What’s up in the yard today? I finished the Selene, still prepping the Rival. Anything else?”

  “Yeah. Get this. We have to go through Billy’s Sea Ray yacht with a ‘fine tooth comb.’” Neil made air quotes. “He wants us to inspect the bottom for algae and scum, clean the teak, inspect the engine - basic maintenance stuff. Apparently, he’s got some mega trip planned. It will arrive next week.”

  “Shit. Do I have to be the one to work on it?”

  “‘Fraid so. You’re the best. You’ve got an eye for detail. You can finish prepping the Rival today. Then, take a break. You deserve it. Get some rest. You put in extra time over the weekend. We’ll manage.”

  A knock sounded on the door followed by a pimply faced young man sticking his face around the door.

  “Office is around the corner,” Neil said. “This is for employees.”

  “Are you Neil Jenner?”

  “Yes, that’s me.”

  “And Jace Savage?”

  “Yeah,” Jace said apprehensively, scowling.

  “You’ve been served.”

  The guy practically threw the paperwork at them and raced away.

  “Fuck!” Jace said. “So much for my good mood.” He unfolded the paperwork. “In the Circuit Court of King County, Washington, blah de fucking blah.”

  “King County? He’s doing this in Seattle? Why not over here?”

  “Who knows? Fuck.”

  Neil sighed. “Well. Here we go. We’ve been served.” He lifted his ball cap, ran his hand through his hair, and replaced it. “I don’t think this frivolous case will hold water, you know that. The burden of proof is on Billy’s scumbag lawyers, to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you abused him and I was complicit in foul play. We both know any abuse he got, he had coming to him.” He sighed. “But, this couldn’t come at a worse time.” He shook his head.

  “Is there a good time to be sued?” Jace felt a stab of guilt. “It’s my fault. I could quit or something. Maybe if I got out of here, he’d come after me, not you.”

  Neil’s face furrowed. “I won’t do that to you, Jace. I know you’ve got an extra mouth to feed until your sis shapes up. Damn. We’ll just have to find a way to deal.”

  “I swear to God. If he wins this thing, I’ll find the money. I’ll beg for photo ops. I won’t let you down.”

  “That’s mighty generous, Jace,” Neil said, sparing him a kind glance. “But you don’t have that kind of time or money.”

  “Neither do you.” Jace pushed away from the counter, suddenly feeling like he weighed ten tons. “At least the asshole won’t be hassling me today. I’ve got that much going for me.”

  “At least there’s that.”

  “We keep on putting one foot in front of the other.”

  “That we do, son. We’ll figure this thing out. Don’t worry about it.”

  Like that will happen. Jace decided to pour himself into work and let things unfold.

  At the end of his sublimely short work day, he drove to Aunt Molly’s to pick up Marni.

  “Hi, honey,” Aunt Molly called into the open window of the cab when he pulled the truck into the driveway.

  His aunt and Marni were tending to the fall garden, prepping it for planting, and picking the last of summer’s bounty. Aunt Molly held a hoe, while Marni waved a plastic shovel. Her contribution consisted of hitting the ground with the toy tool.

  “Hey,” Jace said, striding from the truck. He picked Marni up and swung her around. “Hey, baby girl. Your uncle Jace gets to spend two nights with you.” He poked her squishy-soft tummy, making her giggle. “Uncle’s girlfriend has to work the next two night shifts. That makes Uncle Jace sad but means more time for you!” He tickled her ribs, making her squeal with delight.

  “Ga,” Marni said.

  “That’s her word for garden.”

  “Ga,” Jace repeated to her.

  “So it’s official then?”

  “What’s official?” Jace lifted Marni high, then lowered her in a swoop.

  “You have a girlfriend?”

  “Seems so.”

  “That’s wonderful! I want to meet her.”

  Jace stopped swinging Marni around, propped her on his hip, and grew somber. “That’s the thing, auntie. She knows nothing about my life over here and I want to keep it that way - for now, at least.”

  “Because you’re embarrassed of us?” Aunt Molly’s face fell.

  Jace scoffed. “Hell, no, not embarrassed. It’s so damn complicated, what with baby girl here and all. I keep hoping my sister will show up and set things right and I can get on with my life. Then I’ll bring her around.”

  “She might want to be included in your life, sweetie.”

  Jace’s face set in a stony, determined expression. “No. That’s final.”

  “I know that face - that’s your super stubborn ‘I’ve got this’ face. Okay, I’m only an advisor.” She smiled. “Any word from Jayna?” Aunt Molly asked. “I’m getting worried about that girl.”

  “Not a peep.”

  “Have you talked to the sheriff?”

  “Yeah, when I filed a missing person’s report. And again after she called. I told him I believed my sis is in harm’s way but you know how limited the resources are in this county. He told me they’re doing all they can.” Jace sighed. “Someone’s got to know something. Maybe I’ll head over to one of her hangouts and see if I can rattle some cages.”

  “Be careful with that. Some of your sister’s ‘friends,’ quote unquote, are no-one to mess with.”

  Jace smirked. “What, you think I can’t defend myself?”

  “I’m not worried about you, honey. You’re a big, tough guy. It’s Marni I w
orry about. She’s too little to see the kind of things your sister introduced her to. And she definitely needs her uncle to stay in one healthy piece.”

  “Ga,” Marni said, patting her uncle’s cheek.

  Jace took her hand and kissed it. “That’s a fact. I’ll be careful, you know I will. Anyway, I’d better scoot and let you get on with your day. See you tomorrow, auntie.”

  “Diaper bag’s just inside the door.”

  He retrieved it, then buckled Marni in her car seat. “Bye, Aunt Molly.” He lifted his hand.

  “See you, Jace. And let your girlfriend in,” she called as he eased down the road.

  Jace waved a hand dismissively and pulled onto the paved street.

  With Marni happily playing with a toy, clearly in a good mood, Jace decided to follow his impulse and head to the high school football field. School wouldn’t start for a couple weeks and, unless there was pre-season practice, the field was usually a place where lovers and derelicts hung out - like my sister, he thought with a scowl.

  He parked the truck, placed Marni in her backpack, and swung the contraption onto his shoulders. “Let’s go for a walkabout,” he said over his shoulder.

  “Da-da,” she said. She patted his hair. “Da-da.”

  “Uncle,” Jace said, feeling a twist of emotion. “Uncle.”

  He strode in the direction of a group of losers he recognized, lounging at the far end of the grassy field. Fucking shed-boys.

  “Jace! What’s doing, my man?” one of them asked, as he approached. The dirty haired guy sat in the grass, his girlfriend lying listless, head in his lap, her tangled hair spread in a wild heap.

  “Leroy,” Jace said coolly. “Shed-boys,” he said to the others with a sneer.

  One of them laughed. “It’s a place to live, man.”

  “Yeah, mooching off of someone else’s hard work,” Jace said. These guys disgusted him.

  The girlfriend opened her eyes, looking as if her eyelids weighed a million pounds. “Hey,” she said, in a slow, thick voice. “Jace.” Her eyelids slammed shut.

  Jace eyed the needle marks on her arms and shook his head. “Any of you fine citizens know where my sister is?”

  The four males shifted uneasily, looking at each other like antelopes at the lion’s waterhole.

  “Nope,” one of them said.